How to Identify Semi Precious Stones
Semi-precious stones (or gemstones) differ from the more expensive precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds) primarily in historical and cultural significance. Precious stones have a clearer, more translucent quality than semi-precious stones and carry a romantic mystique. Semi-precious stones, forged from minerals, rocks and plants, originate in the same way as their classier counterparts, but are less expensive and easier to obtain. Gemologists identify and classify semi-precious stones in a number of ways, but an amateur with a fondness for gemstones can easily identify semi-precious stones by subgroup, color, texture and shape.
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Instructions
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Learn the basic types of semi-precious stones or gemstones. The subgroups, based on the rock formation that created the stone, include quartz, feldspar, beryl and garnet.
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Spot quartz crystals. Quartz, formed by silicon and oxygen in the Earth's crust, are found in many colors, shades and transparencies. The black onyx is a type of quartz, as are the star blue and rose quartz. Amethyst, a purple or lilac quartz, is often cut in rectangular shape and worn as a ring. Quartz crystals are popular with alternative and New Age healers.
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Identify garnet gemstones. Garnets range in color from black to deep red, and often resemble a pomegranate when cut by jewelers. Semi-precious stones in the garnet family appear in every color except blue.
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Examine jade. This green stone, often oval shaped and used in pendants and necklaces, is formed from magnesia and silica. The most highly prized pieces of jade are a uniform green color, though it occurs in red, yellow and lilac in nature.
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Check out other semi-precious stones. Natural glass or obsidian is extremely fragile, and color ranges from black to brown to green. Lapis Lazuli, created from a rock, is dark blue with traces of white, and sometimes contains gold specks. Often used in Western and American Indian jewelry, bright blue turquoise is a popular semi-precious stone.
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Note that some semi-precious stones are formed from natural compounds other than rock. Light, clear and brownish-gold in color, translucent amber is created from tree resins. Coral comes from the ocean. Usually found in shades of red and pink with a touch of white, this gem is formed from the skeleton of small sea creatures called polyps. It is found in Florida and Hawaii, and, like obsidian, is extremely fragile.
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Determine the quality of a semi-precious stone by its color. The best stones have a pure color and slight shades of related colors underneath. Semi-precious stones also have a tone, ranging from light to medium-light to dark. Light and medium tones are desirable, but dark, or black/brown tones decrease value and attractiveness.
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